Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no extra cost to you, we can earn a commission if you click through and purchase.Additional disclosure: We were provided with free product from U-Pol Raptor in return for our honest review. All thoughts and opinions herein are solely of The Roamans, and we were not in any way influenced by U-Pol and/or its affiliates whatsoever.

Recently, my (Marisa) van Grizzy got a makeover, and let me tell you, it was much deserved. It’s been a while since we posted, so let’s start with a bit of an update.

Vanessa and I lived in our vans from December 2018 until June 2019 in Austin, Texas. IT WAS FRIGGIN’ HOT.

We are spending the summer in Chicago, Illinois making updates to our rigs and making more practical choices after living in them.

Practical choices for me included letting go of a lot of aesthetic choices I made during my build and instead, creating a more functional space. For instance, I took down my moss wall and added a porthole—which is a world of difference for wind flow in the van. Another practical choice included adding more durability to the body of the van. We plan on spending 2019 trekking through a lot of desert and BLM land which means that there will be a lot of dust, dirt, rocks, and grime all up in Grizzy’s business. That’s why I made the decision to coat the van’s trim and hood in U-Pol Raptor Bed Liner.

I've seen a lot of vans painted with the Raptor bed liner and thought it was pure genius. Raptor protective coating protects against rust, corrosion salt, damp and extreme temperatures, plus it is waterproof, flexible, and helps deaden sound and vibrations. Sounds like the perfect coating for the exterior of a conversion van, right?

I'm going to be honest with you, I was scared to do it myself. A lot of people who chose U-Pol Raptor Liner had a professional apply it for them. For me, this just seemed like a very expensive endeavor. Vanessa and I were quoted in Austin, Texas upwards of $3,000 for it to be applied, which is just baffling. And not in the cards for me.

​So, I embarked on the journey of applying it myself. And since the Raptor paint kits were supplied to us by U-Pol, the costs for me on this entire project were less than $50. With that said, let's go into the highlights of this paint project and some of the most critical components if you're going to apply it yourself.

1) Preparation is Critical...

If ever you've painted anything before, you know that half the battle is preparing the surface for the paint. This same rule applies for painting a conversion van. The best part about ordering the Raptor bed liner kits is that many of them have almost everything you need to prepare your surface. I began with the hood because 1) I was nervous and 2) in case it turned out like garbage, I could always just sell a kidney and replace the hood.

I began prepping the surface by using a water-based degreaser to clean off all the road grime and crap. This was the solvent I used:

Be warned...this stuff is potent. Make sure you wear a mask during the entire project because the last thing you want is a beautiful van but a ton of shit in your lungs.

After degreasing the area, I wiped it down with a cloth. Then, I took the abrasive blocks that were included in the kit and began scrubbing the heck out of the surface. You don't want to abrade down to bare metal, so don't worry about going too hard. You simply want to remove the protective paint coating on top and get the surface to resemble more of a matte, or a dull look.

Use the degreaser again after this, and then wipe clean again.

The next step for me was to tape up the areas which were not to be painted. Let me preface this by saying this step is the bane of my existence. I don't know what it is about taping up non-paintable areas, but it is just annoying to me. Maybe it's because it takes a decent amount of patience and time, or maybe it's because I can't just dive right in to the actual crux of the project. (Sigh). Regardless, don't skip this step because it makes a WORLD of difference.

After taping up the parts, you'll want to apply an adhesion promoter in order to help the bed liner adhere to the van. I've read a lot of people skipping this step, and while I considered it, I thought it was better to be safe than sorry. I'm sure that down the road when sand winds from the desert are beating against my van, I'll be glad I did.

This is the product I used:

I sprayed this on as directed and let it sit for 20 minutes before the fun officially began.

2) Follow U-Pol Raptor's Instructions Carefully

While it might seem like there are a lot of instructions being thrown at you, it's actually relatively simple to follow. I do have to say that U-Pol does a great job in breaking down what you need to do in order to get this project finished. From the preparation to the actual execution, I understood everything that was expected of me in order to get this van looking sharp.

3. Choose Your Method Of Application Wisely

There are two ways in which you can apply Raptor product: by spray gun or through the roll-on method. Spray gun requires a bit more preparation and will also need you to tape your non-paintable surfaces up waaaaay more than roll-on. However, some issues that people have faced with the roll-on method is making sure than everything comes out even. I chose the roll-on method because I wanted the project to be as simple as possible, and the good news is I think I chose right. With the roll-on application, U-Pol sends in their kits two sponge rollers, two paint trays, and gloves. Always, always wear the gloves. This stuff gets so sticky and hard to remove.

4. Go Carefully Through Each Step, But Work Fast!

During the actual application of the U-Pol Raptor bed liner, make sure to work swiftly, but efficiently. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but let me explain. Once you add the included hardener into the actual paint liner, you have 60 minutes before everything turns to a hardened, non-applicable mess. The hardener works SO quickly that you really only have an hour to get the first coat on. The good news is, there are more than enough paint liner bottles included in each kit to get a solid two coats on, which is all I needed.

5. Fill In All The Little Cracks & Crevices

After I did my first coat, I used the rest of the product to fill in all the little cracks and crevices. I found the most effective way to do this was with these sponge brushes:

You can get a pack on Amazon by clicking above, or just visit your local dollar store. I used these sponge brushes to get into all the white spots still left, and believe it or not, I did not need another go-around after just doing it once.

6. Don't Skip The Cure Time...

Just because you're finished painting doesn't mean the job is over. You HAVE to let this paint cure properly. To the touch, it'll be dry in an hour. To be in rain, let it cure 72 hours. Ultimately, the paint may take up to a week to settle in and cure. This is absolutely essential if you don't want to muck up everything you just did.

My Honest Review...

Yes, we ended up receiving product by U-Pol Raptor in order to write a review. Yes, I will review this product and experience honestly. The bare bones of it all is that my van looks so friggin' great after this application. It really added character, durability, and texture to an otherwise regular Sprinter van. I originally was going to paint the entire van in this bed liner, but I'm so grateful I just did the hood and the trim. Aesthetically, it looks so unbelievably rugged. I am amazed. The bed liner also corrected so many rust spots I had on the lower half of the van. After prepping the surface properly, the bed liner will protect these otherwise vulnerable spots from further deterioration.

The only con I would discuss about this project is that there is a slightly uneven look in some areas of the hood. I can't necessarily blame this on the product itself, because I'm a novice painter and rolled it on. I can say that Vanessa had a professional spray hers on and it looks extremely even all around. But, I have heard that the product needs time to cure up to a week, so I'll provice an update after I have given it the proper cure time. The photos only show the product after about an hour or so.

Below of some photos of the project. All in all, it took maybe under 4 hours total to do the hood and the trim, including all the preparation. It was an afternoon well-spent and I cannot recommend this product more. If you want to add an extra layer of protection and durability to your conversion van, then U-Pol Raptor product will be your best bet.

It's been a while since we wrote and for that, we are sorry. We completely became immersed in our recent travels throughout the California coast and have some truly stunning photography to show for it. We also have some stories to share, vegan food to obsess over, and updates to our small RV Maude that we will start sharing over the next few weeks.

Thanks to our friends over at The Modern Caravan, we were officially introduced to the Mendocino area, which (sigh) we fell in love. But, we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves at this point. Let's talk about a few California RV travel destination highlights in the past month and a half...​

Lee Vining, California

We met up with our friends near Yosemite National Park. We had never been throughout our travels and decided that Yosemite was something we really wanted to do. While driving through was absolutely stunning, we weren't too fond of the park itself. It was way too crowded, people were way too unkind (we're in a huge vehicle and we go the speed limit, please be kind) and not following park rules at all. We're not some brown-nosing trailheads who have to follow every park rule in order to have fun, but watching families along the riverbanks taunt and tease ducks and throw rocks and splash water at them, was not something we enjoyed. I won't get too far into the experience because I'll just get worked up, but the overall consensus: Yosemite = meeehhh but Lee Vining = YASSSS.

Lee Vining is this little town outside Yosemite with a quaint grocery offering alcohol, vegan options, firewood and basically everything we needed to live there for a week. But the best part about Lee Vining was not the grocery, or the gas stations, or the convenience of coffee shops but instead the BLM land which was free and oh-so-glorious. We had an expanse of desert at our doorstep, with mountains in the distance and Mono Lake right within eye shot. The sunsets were glorious and we could hear coyotes at night herding their pack. There was silence and solitude and scenery for days. Not to mention a $10 dump site up the road and FREE mountain spring water about 6 miles away. Here are a few photos.

Dana Point Beach, California

After leaving the desert, we ended up going to San Juan Capistrano still caravanning with our friends along the way. From the desert to the beach in just a few hours, and we were in heaven. Not only is the Dana Point State Beach a true gem, but you can park your rig right on the water's edge ALL DAY for $15. This means that from 6am-10pm, you can park your trailer, RV, van, Westie right on the beach. We did this for about a week straight and had an absolute blast. Not to mention, Marisa finally learned how to surf! For less than $25, she rented a board and a wetsuit and took to the water, and with the help of Ellen from The Modern Caravan, they taught each other how to surf. It was a life bucket list completed. Dana Point Beach will forever have our hearts for days filled with setting suns, swimming, surfing, and sunshine.

Mendocino, California

Mendocino.....where to begin? Mendocino really took our breaths away, in more ways than one. Not only is the true beauty of the area such a stunning landscape, but it was the simplicity of it all that really stuck with us. We didn't have the best experience in Fort Bragg to say the least, so Mendocino was the warm welcome we needed to revive our spirits. We happened to pull into town during the exact two hours on a Friday in which they were having their Farmer's Market, which was perfect. We stocked up on fruits and veggies and hung out with some locals. The free boondocking was in abundance, not to mention the fact that we could pull our rig into the beach recreation area during the day and hang. The water was a bit chilly for us so no surfing or swimming happened, but we did some hiking, visited Harvest Market for some vegan goodies and had a memorable, mouthwateringly good meal at Stanford Inn. We won't go into too much detail about the vegan food we ate throughout the trip because that will be a whole other post, but for real.... get ready.

If you're ever in the Fort Bragg/Mendocino area we also highly recommend Glass Beach. Being down in the sea glass and seeing all that beauty in one place was an experience in its own.

Anderson Valley, California

After leaving Mendocino (regretfully), we ended up passing through Anderson Valley unexpectedly and found wineries up the wazoo. It was really fun to stop by a handful of places, enjoy the rows upon rows of vineyards being harvested, and sip on some delicious wines. Our favorite winery to visit by far was Husch Vineyards. If ever you're passing through Anderson Valley you have to stop by for a tasting. They offer 6 complimentary tastes of their wide-ranging selection, and they all came with a story. One important tip for this particular winery is to ask for Margaret. Not only will you have yourself a blast with her wit and humor, but she sure does know her stuff.

We're currently headed south at the moment, picking up a few hidden gem spots to accommodate our small RV. In truth, the next month is filled with a lot of question marks as we wander around enjoying the potential of what autumn will bring. Stay tuned for our next post on all things vegan food, where we talk about The Butcher's Son in Berkley, Stanford Inn in Mendocino and probably the best vegan sushi spot we have ever encountered in our lives in San Francisco.

We didn't think it would be possible to get a regular house mattress into our small RV and level up the sleeping situation. Yet, we had to try. After a bout of some restless nights and terrible tossing and turning, we knew we needed something different. The RV mattress which came with Maude was a thin, very light piece of wood and maybe (?) some springs, which we layered with both a 3 inch-thick foam mattress pad and a very fluffy topper. But still, we were able to sink into the layers and find the hardness of the mattress below each and every night.

We needed something different. We needed a change. Our poor bones weren't getting enough rest and when you're on the road you totally understand and appreciate what a good night's sleep does for you. So we decided to take the plunge and replace the RV mattress. The RV mattress was connected to a few pieces of metal, which were seemingly attached to a hydraulic-type-mechanism. With just a few bolts to unhinge, we got it out with a celebratory sigh.

The problem though, is that when we tossed the mattress, we left a gaping hole in where there would be support for our bunk. There was no longer any pieces of wood to keep us upright in the bunk, and for that, we had to devise a plan. Turns out, just a few pine boards from Home Depot combined with some screws and metal supports to connect it all allowed for a makeshift bed frame to be created. Not only is it sturdy (we screwed it into the sides of the RV bunk base) but it provides a really nice structure for our new mattress.

That's right, we said it-- new mattress. A Tuft & Needle mattress at that. Never did we think that we could rip out the RV mattress and replace it with a full-size, house-intended mattress, but guess what? We did. And the results were freaking fantastic.

We have officially slept on our Tuft & Needle mattress for over a month now and we have a few exciting things to report:

Marisa no longer has back problems. She doesn't wake up with pains along her spine, nor does she toss and turn during the night.

This mattress is easily a life-changer. It is thick and sturdy yet soft on the top. The firmness is what makes it such an incredible RV mattress replacement.

It fits. Our old RV mattress was specifically designed to fit in the bunk, and we were unsure of whether or not the Tuft & Needle mattress would fit. But, it does. Even with the slide completely in, the mattress stays in place wonderfully.

The company itself, rules. We were first told about Tuft & Needle from a few friends over at The Modern Caravan. At the time, we heard about it and thought "wouldn't that be nice?" But we didn't think we would have enough room. We did some research before reaching out to Tuft & Needle because we value companies that are transparent in their goals and message, plus actively want to help consumers while also contributing to an eco-friendly mission. Tuft & Needle does just that.

One of the coolest aspects about our Tuft & Needle mattress was that it came in a box, perfectly packaged. We had heard about mattresses arriving in boxes from other fellow-travelers or through podcast commercials, and really admired how simple receiving a mattress could be. It wasn't until we received our Tuft & Needle mattress in this compact box that we really were impressed.

We can't say enough good things about Tuft & Needle. Not only has it added a huge layer of comfort to our small RV, but it also provides us with consistent sleep night-after-night no matter where we pull off to doze. We are actually excited to climb into bed and rest.

For those who are interested in checking out a Tuft & Needle mattress, you can try it out for 100 nights to see if it is a good fit. Plus, any mattress that is returned after the 100-night sleep trial is then donated to local charities and non-profits across the county. HOW COOL IS THAT?! Tuft & Needle offers one fair price always which means that there are no sales pitches or gimmicks attached. Transparency at its finest.

Please note: We were not financially compensated for this post. We received a mattress for review purposes. However, the opinions are completely our own based on our personal experiences with the product. We only choose to review products and brands that we love.

People go on road trips for lots of different reasons. Thrill seekers go to find the highest cliffs. Nature lovers go to find new camping spots and hidden natural secrets. Anthropology hobbyists go to discover the cultural heritage of America. And foodies…we go for the food. From coast to coast, this country is packed with diverse cuisine.​When it comes to vegan foodies, we’re in luck. Some of the best vegan restaurants in the world are right here in the US of A. Whether you own an RV or rent one from a site likeRVshare, finding a renowned vegan restaurant is just another part of the adventure. So, if you’re planning a road trip soon and you love to eat clean, why not make a point to stop at some (or all) of these famous vegan eateries?​

​US-1: Good Eats in the East

US-1 is a nearly 2,400-mile long highway that stretches all the way from Maine to Florida. Along the way, it passes through all the major cities on the eastern seaboard, like New York, Boston, Miami, and so on. And major cities mean major culinary attractions:​

Start your trip in North Carolina at Plant, one of the area’s most flavorful vegan restaurants. With a cozy, modern setting and dishes overflowing with savory, mouth-watering flavors, you won’t believe that you’re eating completely meat-free food in what looks (from the outside) to be an out of the way diner.

Next, head up the coast to Vedge in Philadelphia, PA. Vedge is a high-end restaurant that serves up your typical Philly deliciousness, sans meat, of course. They’ve painstakingly reinvented classic Philly flavors using locally-sourced vegetables and a little progressive thinking. Consistently receiving top marks from foodie authorities across the country, Vedge is definitely a must-see while you’re traversing the East Coast.

Your next stop is in the Big Apple, where you can get some seriously good vegan sushi. “Vegan sushi” sounds a bit odd, right? You would think sushi without fish is just…seaweed and rice, I guess. But the chefs at Beyond Sushi have managed to replace the lack of fish with an abundance of flavor and color. Check out their new location on W 37th Street for both signature dishes and new menu options.

Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge, Massachusetts is your final destination on this East Coast tour. If you’re a fan of retro diners, you’ll love this place. It’s a 1950’s style diner that doesn’t take itself too seriously - a fun place to go and enjoy New England diner food that’s vegan, like a shaved seitan sandwich with baked mustard beans, or a black bean burger with mashed sweet potatoes.​​

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West Coast Food Envy Along the PCH

You can’t say “road trip” without thinking of the Pacific Coast Highway. This 1,650-mile stretch runs between the Northwestern tip of the United States all the way to the Mexican border. The PCH winds along the west coast, cuts through majestic forests, and even meanders through desert-like climate. If the sights aren’t enough to pique your interest, the food will be:​

Start your trip in Seattle, Washington, where Plum Bistro takes the cake for flavorful comfort food without meat. Traditional American dishes like mac and cheese and buffalo burgers get a vegan reimagining, so you can still enjoy the flavors of the classic American backyard barbecue.

Next, head to the city that keeps it weird, Portland, Oregon. Here, you’ll find Natural Selection (NOT the Darwinist theory), known for its twist on European-style cuisine. The nifty thing about this restaurant is that they cut out the meat substitutes and only use plants in their dishes. Since their menu is locally sourced and seasonal, it changes depending on what time of year you stop in for a bite.

A little further south down the PCH, you’ll find Greens Restaurant in San Francisco, California. They’re a vegan veteran – in service since 1979. This award-winning eatery started the farm-to-table movement and is still wowing patrons with its creative menu to this day. Bring your wallet though; Greens is a high-end restaurant with high-end pricing. You’ll enjoy views of the San Francisco Bay while you dine on classic vegan dishes that influenced some of the best restaurants in the world.

Finally, stop by Los Angeles and check out Crossroads Kitchen on Melrose Ave. It may be another expensive option (it’s Melrose Ave, after all), but the food will make you forget about your money woes, and all your other worries, for that matter. Crossroads Kitchen specializes in Mediterranean tapas, like artichoke oysters and “crab cakes” made solely from plant-based ingredients. ​

​US-34: Mouthwatering Meals in the Midwest

You may need to take a few extra roads, but US-34 is a 1,122-mile highway that will take you from suburban Chicago to Northern Colorado. Stop into a few of these locations for vegan dining with a Midwestern flair:​

Chicago is known for its exquisite dining, and vegan food is no different. Ground Control is a fixture in the Chicago vegan scene, with everything from Buffalo Tofu Wings to southern fried food and Puerto Rican dishes. In fact, you could stay here and get a taste of vegan culture from around the country without ever having to go anywhere else. But that’s no fun, is it?

Another must-see on the Chicago list (hint, hint: spend more than one day in Chicago) is Mana Food Bar in Wicker Park. Specializing in small, shareable dishes, like their infamous Mana sliders, it’s the perfect place to go with a few friends. Their dishes are inspired by everything from Greek Mediterranean cuisine, to Indian and Korean flavor profiles.

You could spend your whole food trip in Chicago, but if you ever make it to Colorado, check out Leaf in Boulder. Boulder is a great place to hang out and shop, and thanks to Leaf, is now on the map as a vegan-friendly destination. Their menu features plates that are bursting with flavor, like the Jackfruit-Carnitas Enchiladas and Jamaican Jerk Tempeh.​

​Where Will Your Tour de Flavor Take You?

Whether grabbing vegan comfort food in Seattle or getting a taste of New England’s classic dishes reimagined, there’s no shortage of delicious vegan eats in the United States. If you rented an RV from a site likeRVshare, you’ll have the freedom to go anywhere and try foods from across the country. Who knows? Maybe you can hit all the spots on this list!

Well, we finally bit the bullet and bought a new RV Fantastic Vent Fan for our small RV. Assuming that the old Fantastic Fan came with our RV, that makes it about 10 years old, and quite an eyesore. Not that it hasn’t provided wonderful moments of cool breezes when we needed it the most. But the indoor cover part is seemingly off-white (cream colored) and not at all our jam. Why go to all the trouble of painting your walls white so that you can just have an off-white, yellowy fan smack dab in the middle of your ceiling?! Other than color, our fan also makes a squeaking noise which can get under your skin, plus just normal 10-year-wear-and-tear. So, we decided to upgrade.
​
Now, Fantastic Fans aren’t cheap. This is why we left this to one of the projects for later on down the road.

We didn’t see the need to rush because we already had a working fan and

There were other ways to spend that money. But, we are leaving Austin shortly, and decided that for the West Coast, a new fan would make all the difference.

We’ve been watching a few videos in regards to installation, and have not been put off by the process. (Not like our water heater, ugh). We decided to go with the newer model (go big or go home right?!) and opted to purchase all the necessary add-ons in one fell swoop. This is everything we bought:

Items We Bought For Installation

You can click on the images above to take you right to the purchase point.

Installation Steps:

1) Turn off power. Now, I get paranoid when I’m working with electrical and while some people might go with the flow, I like to avoid getting electrocuted at all costs. But hey, that might just be me.

2) Remove the old putty/sealant/glue/chewing gum that is holding your old fan down. You can use a knife, putty knife, spatula, magic wand—whatever floats your boat and does the job. Make sure not to cut into your actual roof while doing so.

4) Get that old fan outta there! This may take some extra elbow grease, especially if it’s been sealed down with glue. I definitely misjudged how tightly our fan was in place.

5) Once that puppy is loose, disconnect the wires. Normally, white is negative and black is positive. Ours were yellow and white, so in that case the yellow was positive. We just snipped with wire cutters closer to the wires coming from the RV.

6) Clean the area well. Not only was there a lot of dirt, but also a lot of old sealant and just plain gunk. We cleaned around the area in order to get the new fan in place.

7) Put the putty all the way around the base of the new fan. This putty is clay putty that we bought from Amazon, and adhered very well.

8) Connect the new wiring on the new fan with the RV wiring. Crimp the connector in place and seal with electrical tape. TEST! Test it out before sealing it down! You want to make sure it works, right?

9) Take the putty wrapper off all pieces of putty and put the fan in place. (Note: if your fan requires new holes to be drilled in the roof, then so be it. We were lucky enough that all the holes that were previously in the roof for the old fan lined up perfectly with the new fan. Thank goodness).

10) Press the fan into place with the putty.

11) Use the screws to screw the new fan into place within your roof.

12) Use the Dicor Lap Sealant around every screw, as well as along the base of the new fan. This is what will prevent any leakage or water issues down the road, so make sure you’re generous with your lap sealant. We decided to smooth it out a bit, despite being self-leveling, just to ensure that everything was properly covered.

13) Wash your hands because lap sealant is gross.

14) Head inside and add the vent fan phalange on the inside of the base. You may need to cut it down a bit to fit—we did. We used our circular saw to cut it down. Measurements from our old phalange were used to make the cuts.

15) Screw the phalange into place.

16) Click that bad boy on and get ready to enjoy a breeze.

​Everyone loves a good before and after shot, right?!

Feel free to shoot us any questions you have about the process. We aren’t professionals by any means, but we've done a lot in our small RV that took a lot of time, research, and good old fashioned learning! Truth be told, we knew nothing about RV Fantastic Fan Installation, but you find a few videos, read a few instruction manuals and then cross your fingers and hope for the best.